Carbon Earth™ Directory

Some Facts in brief...

The concentrations of several greenhouse gases have increased over time. Human activity increases the greenhouse effect primarily through release of carbon dioxide, but human influences on other greenhouse gases can also be important.

Some of the main sources of greenhouse gases due to human activity include:
burning of fossil fuels and deforestation leading to higher carbon dioxide concentrations;
livestock and paddy rice farming, land use and wetland changes, pipeline losses, and covered vented landfill emissions leading to higher methane atmospheric concentrations. Many of the newer style fully vented septic systems that enhance and target the fermentation process also are major sources of atmospheric methane;
use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in refrigeration systems, and use of CFCs and halons in fire suppression systems and manufacturing processes.
agricultural activities, including the use of fertilizers, that lead to higher nitrous oxide concentrations.

The seven sources of COČ from fossil fuel combustion are (with percentage contributions for 2000-2004: